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2015-18 Alpine Champs Hosts Announced

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USSA

2014-04-03 09:11

Fans gather at awards for the men's slalom at the 2008 Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships held at Sugarloaf. (Kris Dobie)

PARK CITY, UT (April 3) – Leading eastern resort Sugarloaf, Maine and historic Sun Valley, Idaho will host the 2015-2018 U.S. Alpine Championships on alternating years beginning next winter with Sugarloaf. The announcement continues the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Associations long-term plan to move the annual celebration of American ski racing to top resorts around the United States.

HIGHLIGHTS

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association announced Sugarloaf and Sun Valley as resort hosts for the 2015-2018 U.S. Alpine Championships.

A leading eastern ski area, Sugarloaf, ME will again welcome the champs in 2015 and 2017.

The dynamic Narrow Gauge run last hosted the U.S. Championships at Sugarloaf in 2008. Sun Valley last hosted the event in 1951.

Historic Sun Valley, where Olympic medalists Picabo Street, Chistin Cooper and Gretchen Fraser grew up racing on Warm Springs/Greyhawk, has retained the championships for 2016 and the post Olympic season of 2018.

Each of the resorts boast a rooted history and heritage of ski racing in America and continues that tradition through their strong USSA club programs of Carrabassett Valley Academy at Sugarloaf and the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation.

The 2015 U.S. Championships will mark the events first trip to the Eastern United States since Lake Placid, NY and the 1980 Olympic mountain of Whiteface hosted the event in 2010.

The 2015 event dates will be announced following the finalization of the 2015 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup calendar.

QUOTESPatrick Riml, U.S. Ski Team Alpine DirectorMoving the U.S. Alpine Championships around the United States is vital to directly engaging with strong ski racing communities that are instrumental in growing and maintaining a strong developmental pipeline. It allows us to showcase the excitement of high level alpine skiing to new generations of young athletes and fans.

Calum Clark, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, Executive Vice President EventsBoth Sugarloaf and Sun Valley have a strong tradition in building and showcasing events that celebrate the excitement and culture of ski racing.

The Narrow Gauge race hill is renown in the east for testing and training the best in the world like Bode Miller. Sun Valley has helped produce its share of legends like Picabo Street, who found her love for speed on Warm Springs and Greyhawk.

John Diller, Sugarloaf General ManagerSugarloaf has a proud tradition of hosting some of the world’s premier ski racing events, and we’re honored to have the U.S. Alpine Championships return for 2015. From Bode Miller to Kirsten Clark to Seth Wescott, many of the country’s greatest athletes have cut their teeth right here on the world-famous Narrow Gauge, and we’re excited to see our country’s best ski racers showcase their talent here once again.

Tim Silva, Sun Valley Resort General ManagerOn March 13-14 of 1937, properly sanctioned by the United States Ski Association, the first Sun Valley International Open was run, a downhill and slalom combined. In two years, the race became known as the Harriman Cup Race. The first race attracted the "ski clans of the world" and set the scene for Sun Valley to become a prestigious stop on the European, Canadian and American ski racing circuits.

With nearly 80 years of commitment to ski racing, Sun Valley is looking forward to continuing this tradition by hosting the USSA Alpine Championships in 2016 and 2018

About U.S. Ski TeamThe U.S. Ski Team, as part of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), coordinates nationwide development and elite programs for all competitive skiing sports while maintaining a strong adherence to core values. For more information, visit www.usskiteam.com.

About Sugarloaf Located in Carrabassett Valley, ME, Sugarloaf is largest ski area in the East, and is home to the only lift-serviced above treeline skiing and riding in the East, as well as the number one golf course in Maine, according to Golf Digest. Sugarloaf is a member of the Boyne Resorts family of resorts and attractions. Follow: www.sugarloaf.com, www.facebook.com/sugarloaf, and http://twitter.com/sugarloafmaine.

About Sun Valley ResortFounded in 1936 as America's first ski resort and the recognized inventor of the chairlift, Sun Valley Resort (http://www.sunvalley.com) in the Idaho mountains hosts four-season activities for active-lifestyle vacationers and business travelers, regional guests and families. Continuously modernizing amenities and service standards, Sun Valley is perennially ranked "best of" by major international ski, golf and travel media.